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Career Commitment T&ampC's

This commitment enables Open Colleges students who do not achieve the objective specified during their enrolment (e.g. Enter the workforce, career change, promotion, learning new skills/hobby) within 6 months of completing their course, to receive a second Open Colleges course or module selected by Open Colleges of equal or lesser value for no additional course fee (the Commitment Course), in order to assist the student to gain additional training necessary to achieve their specified outcome.

The conditions of the commitment are:

The Commitment only applies to online courses offered by Open Colleges

The Commitment does not apply to face-to-face courses offered by the School of Health

It only applies to Australian domestic students.

The student must have successfully completed or graduated from their initial course within the maximum course duration

The commitment will only apply if the student has paid their course fees in full

If course pre-requisites and/or eligibility criteria apply for the Commitment Course, the student must meet these conditions to be enrolled in the Commitment Course

The commitment will only apply if the student has made reasonable efforts to achieve their specified objective during their course and within the 6 months’ post course completion. Open Colleges will assess and determine whether the student has made reasonable efforts based on evidence of effort provided by the student. Examples of this include:

Proof of job applications in an industry related to their course of study

Proof of applications within the same employer for promotion or other jobs related to their course of study

Students that enrol as a hobbyist will need to let us know what skills were not learned in their course (to help us close the skill gap)

To accept the commitment, the student must contact Open Colleges within 6 months after the date which is 6 months after completion date of the initial course, after which the commitment expires.

The commitment applies to any course of equal or lesser value. If the second course is more expensive the student will need to pay the difference in the course fees.

The offer is limited to one Commitment Course

The commitment is non-transferrable

The commitment is only valid for new enrolments after (July 3rd, 2017).

Open Colleges reserves the right to cease to offer the commitment at any time without notice, provided that the commitment will remain in place for any student enrolled prior to the commitment offer being cancelled.

Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services

Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services

**Open Colleges does not currently offer this course. The information on this page is indicative only. Register your interest now, and when the course becomes available, we'll be in touch with more details.**

Gain advanced skills caring for the health and wellbeing of companion animals, while also managing an animal-related business, like a shelter or a pet store.

Pay in full and save 25%, $4,540.00$3,632.00

Or pay just $43.39 / week *

Register Your Interest

To find out more about this course enter your details below to register your interest. When it becomes available we'll be in touch with the full course information.

Tick this box to receive our newsletters, updates and special offers

Potential career outcomes

Animal Shelter Supervisor/ Manager

Boarding Kennel/Cattery Manager

Pet Shop Manager

Course Description

Become a leader in the field of companion animal care with Open Colleges’ ACM40310 Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services .

What you'll learn

You will gain advanced knowledge and practical skills in the care of companion animals, including dogs and cats.

Your study will cover animal health, wellbeing, enrichment, grooming, and animal behavior. You will also learn how to lead a team, maintain WHS standards, develop work priorities and maintain compliance in the animal care industry.

Why study this course?

This online companion animals course will qualify you to work as a Pet Store Manager, Shelter Manager, or Kennel or Cattery Manager. You will also learn vital skills that will help you to run your own animal-related small business.

The companion animals certification will give you a strong knowledge base around the key areas of companion animal health and wellbeing. You will also gain a solid set of practical skills, thanks to a 120-hour work placement in a vet clinic, pet store, shelter or kennel/cattery of your choosing.

When you study with Open Colleges, there are on classrooms or exams to attend. You access your learning materials online, and make your way through the course at a pace that suits you, whenever you want, wherever you want.

This course involves work placement that currently needs to be undertaken in Australia. More information available in our FAQs

Minimum age

You will need to be at least 16 years old. If you are under 18 your enrolment form will need to be signed by a parent or guardian.

English

This course involves reading and undertaking a range of written assessments, as well as engaging in online forums and discussions. Furthermore, the delivery mode relies on the extensive use of written communication. As such, entry to the course requires the successful completion of English to Year 10 level.

If you haven't successfully completed English at Year 10 level, you can demonstrate equivalency through one of the following:

Successful completion of a Nationally Recognised Training qualification at Certificate II level or higher; or

2 years relevant industry experience in a role that requires the use of written documentation and communication

Open Colleges recognises that not all people are able to read, write and perform calculations to the same standard. See the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Considerations section for more information on tools, resources and support services provided to you by Open Colleges.

Computing

You will need access to a computer and the internet and have basic computing skills. Minimum specifications for your computer are:

All users:

Microsoft Office 2010 or equivalent

Broadband internet connection

2GB of RAM

CD-ROM or DVD drive

Adobe Reader XI or equivalent

Adobe Flash Player 10 or higher

Access to printer and associated software

Access to scanner and associated software

Digital imaging software

File compression software

Windows users:

Microsoft Windows 7 or higher (Windows 8 recommended)

1 Ghz or faster processer (2GHz recommended)

Mac OS users:

Mac OSX v10.5 or higher (Mac OSX v10.6 recommended)

1 Ghz or faster processer (2GHz recommended)

Skills

To successfully complete this course, you will require basic computing skills. This includes:

Physical requirements

Video assessments

As part of the assessment for some units, you will be required to produce a video of yourself performing certain tasks. Some of these videos may involve another person.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy

Our free online assessment tool can help give you an idea of the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to study a VET course. This tool can also help you determine your learning level and help you plan your future studies. You can access the Language, Literacy and Numeracy tool here.

Open Colleges may make changes to the course from time to time to reflect changes introduced to the relevant Training Package or other regulatory requirements. Please download the course guide for current information about the course and its status.

Module 1

ACMGAS301A

Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing

Follow animal health management practices

Monitor and maintain the physical wellbeing of animals

Identify and report signs of ill health or injury in animals

Administer and record animal treatments

Module 2

ACMGAS303A

Plan for and provide nutritional requirements for animals

Identify nutritional requirements of animals

Evaluate food sources and calculate dietary requirements

Prepare diets and provide food and water

Monitor feeding and watering practices

Module 3

ACMCAS404A

Develop enrichment strategies for companion animals

Develop enrichment strategies

Implement enrichment programs

Monitor and review enrichment strategies

Module 4: 4, 5, 6

Select three (3) electives

ACMSPE304A

Provide basic care of dogs

Identify commonly available dogs

Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs

Handle and restrain dogs

Assist with health care needs

Feed dogs

Maintain records

ACMSPE305A

Provide basic care of domestic cats

Identify common domestic cat breeds

Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs

Handle and restrain cats

Assist with health care needs

Feed cats

Maintain records

ACMSPE312A

Provide basic care of rodents and rabbits

Identify commonly available rodents and rabbits

Identify and evaluate behavioural and housing needs

Catch, handle and restrain rodents and rabbits

Assist with health care needs

Feed rodents and rabbits

Maintain records

ACMCAS306A

Provide grooming services for companion animal comfort

Establish client requirements

Plan grooming routine

Groom animals

Trim coat for animal comfort

Complete grooming and trimming procedures

ACMACR403A

Identify and respond to animal behaviour

Recognise and identify animal

Identify animal behaviour

Assess and respond to animal behaviour

Module 7

ACMCAS401A

Manage compliance in the companion animal industry

Provide high-level advice on companion animals

Manage animals in accordance with relevant codes of practice and legislative requirements

Module 13

What are my payment options?

Pay in full

If you pay your course fees up-front in full, you’ll benefit from a discount. When you pay in full, we don’t have to spend extra money on administration for tasks such as payment plan processing. Instead, we get to pass this saving onto you in the form of a discount.

zipMoney Payment Plan

If you need a little more flexibility in your finances, and want to pay off your course fees over a longer period of time, we can assist by organising zipMoney to pay your course fees directly to us on your behalf, and you pay this loan back to ZipMoney over a period of agreed time with them. zipMoney provides you flexible options of selecting a 24, 36 or 48 months interest-free* payment plan (dependant on which course you are enrolling into) to suit your lifestyle, giving you more flexibility than ever before.

Payment Plan

Pay for your course in weekly or fortnightly instalments. By paying in instalments, you can schedule your payments around your regular outgoings and get ahead without breaking the bank. Open Colleges payment plans are interest-free.

Amy has worked as a veterinary nurse and taught puppy schools in busy general practices in regional Victoria. Whilst completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, she qualified with high distinctions receiving an award nomination for outstanding academic achievements. Discovering a passion for training, Amy gained her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to take on a new career in the vocational education sector. Amy enjoys encouraging nurses to learn new skills, enjoy their work, and take pride in their profession. Amy is a compassionate nurse, spending time volunteering across Thailand and will continue to do more during her career.

Catherine has been a veterinary nurse for over 30 years and has been involved in many areas of the industry and worked with many different species. Her first position in the industry was working with the Animal Welfare League as an animal attendant, where she enrolled in a course called Animal Care, today known as Animal Studies, and Veterinary Nursing.

Catherine’s career has included working at a variety of specialist hospitals, as well as Waratah Park, Abbott Animal Health and TAFE. She is also involved in the Greyhound Adoption Program.

Chris Hosking is the Program Manager for Animal Care. Since 2004 he has had experience working with native and exotic invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles’ birds, and mammals. From 2008 to 2014 Chris coordinated the Australian Museum’s Live Exhibits where he undertook animal management, staff training and developed content about the live displays for the Museum’s programs. Chris remains a member of the Australian Museum’s Animal Care and Ethics Committee and a member of the Australasian Society of Zoo Keeping. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts from Flinders University and Certificate IV in Captive Animals.

Fiona’s career has taken many twists over the past 30 years. Working in hotel management, public relations, event production and finally education, Fiona decided to follow her passion for animals by gaining a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services. Now owning a dog training, grooming and pet care business and working as an in-house trainer/behaviourist at a Sydney veterinary hospital, Fiona is able to combine her ‘human’ training qualifications and experience with her passion for animals. Fiona is a qualified and accredited Delta positive dog trainer and an active member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) of Australia.

After seven years of veterinary nursing, Lauri changed her focus to the vocational training sector. She decided to follow her passion for training and educating up and coming veterinary nurses and animal carers. Lauri holds a variety of qualifications including a Cert II and III in Animal Studies, Cert III and IV in Companion Animal Services, Cert IV and Dip (ECC) in Veterinary Nursing, Cert IV in TAE and Diplomas in Vocational Education and Training, Training Design and Development, Business Admin, Management and Business.?

Robyn has principally worked as a Veterinary Nurse and as a Receptionist for 23 years. She undertook the Veterinary Nursing Certificate with Tamworth TAFE while working at the South Tamworth Animal Hospital Referral practice. Robyn worked at the Coffs Harbour Veterinary Hospital, and the Koala Hospital, moving further to the mid-north coast to the Macksville Veterinary Clinic. Throughout her working life, Robyn has undertaken numerous correspondence courses related to various disciplines

The course contains a minimum of 120 hours of work placement

The workplace will need to provide access to at least one species from the at least two of the six major animal groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates). The workplaces which could offer this include:

Your work placement will need to be completed in Australia, and you will be responsible for the costs of any travel, accommodation, statutory checks or other requirements related to your work placement.